Lower Burrell knocks off Latrobe to earn spot in American Legion District 31 finals vs. Bushy Run

By: Michael Love
Monday, July 14, 2025 | 9:25 PM

It took two days, but Lower Burrell stayed alive in Game 2 of its American Legion baseball District 31 best-of-three semifinal series.

Bad weather suspended the game from Sunday to Monday, and the Bulldogs won 5-4 at Legion Keener Field in Latrobe, holding off Latrobe to force the deciding Game 3 about 10 minutes later.

The Bulldogs then gave a complete effort. The offense collected nine hits, and starter Johnny Walker fired a one-hitter as Lower Burrell won 4-0 to advance to Wednesday’s championship game at Bushy Run.

The clash will be a single game for the title at 5:30 p.m.

“We are now playing in a game we really want to be playing in, and we were very focused on getting the job done (this evening), from finishing off Game 2 to carrying that over to Game 3,” Lower Burrell coach Steve Scheftic said.

“Hat’s off to Latrobe. They’ve battled all year. You know they are never out of a ballgame. They showed that by rallying in the seventh (in Game 2). We knew no game was going to be easy when we arrived at the playoffs. We knew we couldn’t let off the gas, and we didn’t.”

The Jethawks were in good shape after taking the first game of the series, 3-0, on Saturday at Legion-Keener Field.

Latrobe (17-6), the top seed in the playoffs after winning the regular-season title, will host Hempfield East on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for the third seed from District 31 in the Region 7 playoffs this weekend at St. Michael.

“I told the guys that today just wasn’t our day,” Latrobe coach Jason Bush said. “You have to tip your cap to (Lower Burrell). They pitched it well. They hit it well. They ran the bases hard. We got outplayed today, and that’s tough. But everything is still in front of us. We have the consolation game Wednesday to see what kind of seed we get. And we have the opportunity to win regionals this weekend and make some noise.

“It’s about checking boxes. Make playoffs, check. Get to regionals, check. Win the regular-season championship, check. We came up short for the District 31 championship, but there is so much baseball left to play, and these guys will be ready.”

Walker, who closed out Game 2 and was dominant in the playoff opener against Homer City last week, walked the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the first.

But he rallied and struck out Cooper Basciano and got catcher Tyler Smith to pop out to Bulldogs catcher Noah Matson to get out of the jam and keep the game scoreless.

“It was huge for my confidence to get out of that big jam and then start to find my rhythm,” Walker said. “I wanted to give us some momentum as we came into hit (in the top of the second).”

Walker’s only hit surrendered was a single from Cole Short with two outs in the bottom of the third.

He retired the final 14 batters he faced and 18 of the last 19. He struck out four and walked four while receiving standout defense from the infield and outfield. Lower Burrell didn’t commit an error.

“Not just this game, but any game, I know my defense is going to make plays for me,” Walker said. “I can throw strikes and have them put the ball in play. Even some line drives to the outfield my outfielders were able to track down.”

Lower Burrell got on the board in the top of the second as Tylar Hanley singled, and Nolan Bodycombe and Henry Grogh both were hit by pitches from Short, the Jethawks starter.

Short then hit Matson, which forced home pinch runner Brady Dzanaj from third for a 1-0 Lower Burrell lead.

AJ McClafferty singled to right to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage to 2-0.

Lower Burrell made it 3-0 in the top of the third as Zack Hald doubled with one out, moved to third on a single from Adam Scheftic and scored on a safety squeeze bunt off the bat of Jake Smith.

The Bulldogs added on in the top of the fifth as Ryan Bates singled to lead off the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a single from Scheftic.

Short, like Walker, went the distance. He walked one and struck out three.

“We came out ready to get the job done and finished off that first game,” Adam Scheftic said. “We kept that momentum for the second game. We’re on a roll, but we can’t stop now. The chemistry is great, and we’re playing good baseball. It is a great feeling.”

Latrobe was in the midst of a fierce rally in the top of the seventh of Game 2 when play was suspended because of rain.

Lower Burrell scored twice in the first, twice in the fifth and added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Scheftic was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Krogh from third.

Krogh singled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a walk from Nolan Brouwer and to third on a single from Bates to make it 5-1.

Latrobe generated some two-out magic in the top of the seventh.

Short singled on a line drive to right to score Ty Wisniewski and Mason Fridley to close the deficit to one at 5-4.

Walker came on when play resumed and worked a 2-2 count to Basciano as Short stole second.

Basciano then hit a liner to Hanley at shortstop. He ranged to his left to make the catch to close out the victory.

Bushy Run 12, Hempfield East 4 – Jake Sincak went 2 for 2 with a double, two walks, three runs scored and three RBIs to lead Bushy Run’s offensive onslaught in the decisive third game of a District 31 semifinal series.

Carmen Metcalfe and Noah Rattigan each had two hits and two runs scored, and Caleb Kerstetter and Evan Lawson each had doubles and drove in runs for Bushy Run, which jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. Rob Andrews was the winning pitcher.

Quinn Wilkins went 3 for 3 for Hempfield East.

American Legion baseball

District 31 playoffs

Monday’s results

Semifinals

(Best of three)

Lower Burrell 5, Latrobe 4

Lower Burrell 4, Latrobe 0 (Lower Burrell wins 2-1)

Bushy Run 12, Hempfield East 4 (Bushy Run wins 2-1)

Wednesday’s schedule

Championship

Lower Burrell vs. Bushy Run at Penn-Trafford, 5:30 p.m.

Third place

Hempfield East vs. Latrobe at Legion Keener Park, 5:30 p.m.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.